De La Guerra Plaza

"Nice building insomuch as you can enjoy it from the outside. You will share the large traffic circle of a park with homeless people who seem to be friendly enough. Since it's just a half block of State Street, it's definitely at least worth a drive-thru, maybe even a vehicle alighting!"

"For almost 200 years De La Guerra Plaza has been a central meeting place for community events. In 1818 José de la Guerra built the Casa, de la Guerra across the street as his home which became was the social, political, and cultural center of Santa Barbara during the Mexican period. In the 1990s, the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation restored the building to its original appearance, and now operates it as a historic house museum. De La Guerra Plaza continues to be a favorite gathering point for civic rallies and is ground zero for the best food during Santa Barbara's annual fiesta celebrations. New local Santa Barbara shopping boutiques have started to spring up along the perimeter of the Plaza including The Riviera Towel Company and Lululemon on State st side. New Wine Tasting Rooms have recently set up shop including Cebada Wine and Wine Therapy, which offer relaxed atmospheres. On the State Street Side of the Plaza you can get great Sushi at Kai Sushi Shabu-Shabu, get a healthy smoothie at Blenders in the Grass, or indulge at McConnell's Fine Ice Creams of Santa Barbara. Casa de la Guerra is a popular site for community and private events. Each year SBTHP produces free educational programs for the community in the Casa Courtyard including Dia de Los Muertos craft day and Las Posadas."

"For a central location in town, de la Guerra Plaza really has nothing going on. No outdoor dominoes or chess tables with colorful figures passing the time of day. It's too small (less than a block) for walking paths or rows of benches or feeding pigeons. Once a year in August it comes alive for El Mercado, when for several days it hosts a stage for dance and music and food booths for the gastronomically adventuresome. Otherwise de la Guerra is pretty quiet. There is a nice view to be had of the handsome City Hall and News-Press building on two sides. The third is dominated by back doors of State Street businesses."

"Not really a park or plaza. It's more of a grassy space centered on a half loop access to surrounding buildings. The exit side of the loop has 75 minute parking, where as the rest of the loop has 15 minutes parking. The plaza itself is a part of a quaint Spanish historical area of Santa Barbara."